Shinyribs
Album: Gulf Coast Museum
Label: Nine Mile
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.shinyribs.org

As an enterprising and low key diversion to the day job of fronting Texas musical combo The Gourds, the theory behind the Shinyribs project was to find an outlet for a stockpile of songs built up by mainman Kevin 'Shinyribs' Russell. Very much in the same vein as his work with The Gourds which falls under the Americana/Hippie Jam brand, the material on the second full length Shinyribs release 'Gulf Coast Museum' picks up again on the Americana/roots feel. Featuring Gourd drummer Keith Langford, Jeff Brown on bass and Brandy Zdan from Kentucky Fried on keyboards, it's a crack band who easily deliver the goods and are capable of smoothly seguing their sound into a slightly broader palette. Opening song 'Sweeter Than The Scars' has that swing about it which immediately conjures up the impression that it could be taken straight from a movie soundtrack and by the time 'Limpia Hotel' kicks in after the opening pair of tracks, there's an overwhelmingly nostalgic feel of sitting on the porch as the sun sets armed with a set of battered wooden instruments and making relaxed music simply for the fun of it. It's a compliment to note that the laid back looseness is more a sign of the quality of the musicianship rather than a lethargic approach.

There are diversions into some more uptempo territory; 'Texas Talking' is the first of a number of brisk paced pieces where the bluesy and funky inclinations make their presence felt as is 'Bolshevik Sugar Cane' which is just lacking that injection of brass to turn it into an AOR mega selling Huey Lewis style hit. 'Sweet Potato' has been regarded as having a bit of a touch of Prince with the Kevin's vocal edging towards that famed bluesy falsetto alongside a leisurely country style backing which has been likened to that of The Band. At the other end of the scale, the sparse ukulele backing for Harold Melvin's 'If You Don't Know Me' seems a slightly off kilter choice to both include and to end the album - sometimes less is more.

The overall impression of the latest Shinyribs creation is that it serves as a feel good soundtrack without pulling any trees up, yet gives the opportunity to indulge in a refreshing and slightly less pressurised diversion.

Mike Ainscoe